Here is a recent source that says Tony Strickland is running for State Senate CA 19 to replace termed out senator Tom McClintock. Here is another source.
My guess at this point ( and it is really early) is that McClintock is waiting to see what Gallegly does.
Where does this leave Audra Strickland after 2008? Maybe running for county supervisor?
Check the date on the article. Does that mean that Glen Becerra knew Tony Strickland was running when he sent out feelers at the state party convention? That is of course if he really did. I still haven't seen the fabled flyer about Glen Becerra running.
Tony and Audra have an abundance of energy with all of their campaigns. I would imagine with his statewide fundraising network he is the front runner early on. Does anyone disagree with that statement?
Tony Strickland is not the choice of many of us rank and file republicans who care about our party. Tony is a user who never gives back. He just finished getting his butt kicked in the race for state controller and now he wants us to back him for state senate. Tony Strickland is known by most elected republicans as one who has his hand out to them and yet never gives back. Republican leadership is not happy with the choice of Tony as State Senator. Brian I was at the Republican Convention and saw the flyer for Glen Beccera and although I think Glen is a real back bencher I would vote for him over Tony. I will look through my paperwork and see if I can find the Flyer and get it to you. It's about time we Republicans say no to Tony Strickland and retire him once and for all.
Tony Strickland is the front runner, yes?
Tony Strickland is a joke and a bad joke at that! First of all if term limits pass McClintock will run again. Glen Becerra has been blessed by Elton G to get his seat when he leaves. The only office Tony Strickland is qualified for is that of Village Idiot!
Notice that the two comments that disparage former California Assemblyman Tony Strickland fail to offer any evidence that he is (as one poster called him) a "bad joke". Something tells me that whoever these two jokers are, they have a vested interest in Tony failing to get McClintock's backing for his termed out seat. I laugh heartily at the idiots who anonymously post pointless rhetoric like this. It only confirms the fact that Tony Strickland makes the rank and file nervous and is therefore the candidate for conservative Republicans to rally around.
SoCalPundit you then are an idiot by your own admission because you do not use your real name you gutless punk! With Strickland it is a question of where to begin. The money scams between his and his wifes private and public accounts? Him being paid to lobby while still in the Assembly? He and his wife taking millions from gaming interests? Having backers like you?
Well considering one of the two to vote for, having absolutely no positive feelings for Becerra, would have voted for Strickland right up until the SoCalPundit offered his support.
Click on his link. Now if conservatives like this are supporting Tony and Tony embraces people like this, Tony does not get my vote.
Hopefully these aren't the only two choices on the Republican side - unless Tony distances himself from people like SoCal, because I'll be voting for an Independent or a Democrat if it is.
I think it is time for republicans in Ventura County start thinking for themselves. If you are tired of all the lies and deceipt then switch parties! Go dem or decline to state today! Cut off any and all support for the VCRCC!
Tony, you are right! I took a look at that website and talk about right wing wack jobs! Franco and Mussolini would feel like lefties in that group!
I find it interesting that I never see any evidence of the Strickland's helping the community they live in to raise money for local non-profits. They also undermine public education and encourage parents to homeschool and profit from inferior charter schools. Why don't they become involved with their own constituents and the quality of life for them.
They spend all their extra time fundraising for themselves...the community is secondary in their mind...even worse only a vessel for their ambitious self-serving political goals.
If the good people of our communities spent less time helping others and raising money for non-profits and instead worked harder to raise money to oust the Strickland's we all suffer. On the otherhand it seems that this may be what it takes to get rid of them. We each have limited discretionary income so we need to make choices and compromise. It will take a grass roots efforts and more people who are invested in the community to rid ourselves of the Stricklands.
Pity! What a conundrum.
I will support the candidate that I see evidence of them being invested in their community.
Becerra is an active member of the Education Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club. Becerra is also extremely accessible to constituents.
It will be interesting to see the quality of other candidates that are within the 19th boundaries and what they have to offer.
Strickland has already pledged his support for Mitt Romney.
Where did you see the Mitt Romney support story?
Tony Strickland with help from the activist wing of his party is clearly the front runner.
Who is Wayne Johnson? Is he Elton Gallegly's new campaign manager?
Can Dr. Richman run?
As a movement conservative and not a meddling council member Strickland has the upper hand. He also has access to a statewide support network.
To top it off he has the experience campaigning and attracting media attention that a council member who has gone out of his way to not have an opponent will never have.
Strickland came close in a Democrat Tsunami where Becerra hasn't really ran against anyone in close to 10 years. Strickland is ready for primetime at the Belaggio and can go 9 rounds. Becerra needs to hit spring training.
Seriously, Becerra and the Simi Valley good ol' boys have destroyed their own chances by not keeping him in fighting shape.
Maybe they can convince Keith Mashburn to run.
Strickland came close? Compared to other state Reps?
Here are the numbers:
Controller: Strickland 40.2 Chiang 50.7
Lt. Gov.: McClintock 45.1 Garamendi 49.2
Sec. State: McPherson 45.0 Bowen 48.1
Treasurer: Parrish 37.3 Lockyer 54.4
Att.Gen: Poochigian 38.2 Brown 56.3
Ins.Comm.: Poizner 50.9 Bustamante 38.5
Strickland is 4th out of 6 in percentages.
Since this thread is about the Senate seat let's look at those numbers.
Strickland won Santa Barbara County by 1.2 percent, that's 6.2 percent over registration.
Strickland won Ventura County by 10 points, that's almost 8 points over registration.
Strickland won the Santa Clarita area of the district overwhlemingly.
Strickland's put in the time and the shoe leather. He knows the district and the district knows him. Strickland wins the Senate seat-end of story.
He'll also do a great job.
Does that mean that you think he will do a better job and is more electable then Glen Becerra?
Do you think Johnny Chiang was such a strong candidate that he destroyed Strickland? Do you remember the "neck and neck" polls on Strickland's website days before the election?
Tony Strickland bragged for weeks before election day that he was leading John Chaing for Controller. Result he loses by over 10% points. Not a very strong showing for someone who is a constant candidate. As a Republican I was upset with Stickland for campaigning for over a year for Controller, then the minute he sees Elton may not run he shifts his entire effort into running for Congress. Make up your mind, voters have little confidence in you because you just want to suck off the public $$$. There are better Republicans and I for one will not vote for Tiony Stickland for any office. Tony, try working for a living.
-"Tony, try working for a living"-
He's a user- how cruel and uncalled for! :-) Tony and Audra are very good at winning elections and.....end of the story. Working at what? They do not have any skills to be used in the private sector it's as simple as that.
Northstar,
Good point,neither have any talents that would even look like work. He's a professional beggar.
Tony, don't work cause you can't file for unemployment.
It never ceases to amaze me that the naysayers have so little respect for the voters.
The Stricklands have both won their district elections by wide margins. Tony Strickland exceeded Republican registration by 6 points in the controllers race.
Those of you who take great pleasure in attacking the Stricklands for their victories overlook the fact that those victories are the will of the people. Do you pretend to know better than the voters? Should we just appoint you, the attackers, to the "committee that knows what's good for us," and then just dispense with all these stupid elections? I don't think so.
If you can't field a candidate capable of winning then just suck it up and quit your snivelling. The system is what it is, if you're not happy work harder. Don't tear down good people who are successful because you and yours aren't good enough to win an election.
Voter you make some strong points.
But why all the shady money games?
Former Assemblyman Tony Strickland is running hard to replace Senator McClintock, who is termed out in 2008. Tony is holding a fund raiser on March 8. He was at the CRP convention and looked like he was picking up lots of support among legislators and activists. Strickland is serious about this race.
Voter, the Ventura County Republican Central Committee is now a "committee that knows what is best for us" and so in fact we can do away with elections. I was at the last general meeting and it was explained that our elected Central Committee representatives don't have any role to play in the decision making process. I was asked to leave the meeting because I was no longer considered a "good Republican". I suspect there will be no more general meetings called because the organization can no longer tolerate public scrutiny.
Who is peopling the organization? For the most part, friends and/or employees of the Stricklands. Who is particicpating in the shady money games? For the most part, friends and/or employees of the Stricklands.
When I vote for my Central Committee representative, I expect him or her to represent me and be accountable for the integrity of the Central Committee organization. My representatives know that I think there are problems and they choose to not respond to me. This attitude trickles down from our Sacramento leaders and thus we have no effective representation as a county.
Over the last four years, we have been subject to a pattern of diminishing returns which will probably be accelerated if the game board doesn't change.
Katie, you seem to have information, any specifics?
I don't know you, but your posts sound a little like sour grapes.
Ron, did you have a specific question?
I'm not an elected official nor have I ever run for office so I'm not in the grape market. I do vote and I guess I am a purchaser and don't like what I've served. Probably a better analogy would be I have a bad taste in my mouth regarding what has been served up in some of the shopping aisles. Ventura County can do better.
Above post should read "I don't like what I've been served".
Anyway Ron, if you do have a specific question I'd be happy to point you in the right direction. Or you are welcome to contact me privately at dteague1@adelphia.net. I'm all about primary source material and public information. Hearsay is for amateurs!
Tony Strickland is already raising money. He has a fundraiser coming up. He has connections to the GOP activist wing. He has connections to Bill Simon and by default Rudy!
He has run for and won office 3 times locally. His wife has won twice. His name ID is high and he is connected to the most popular local Republican Tom McClintock.
With all of this going for him he is clearly the front runner.
Tony Strickland will be the front runner unless someone runs against him. He won't be able to take the hits that would flow his way if anyone else wants the seat bad enough.
All we have to do is keep posting messages linking to the story about Tony Strickland and it will make it the number one result when people google his name.
This is a strange website. Any ideas?
http://www.jeffgorell.org/
You guys are living in your own world if you think that republican money is "dirty" and democrat money is pure. I don't particulary care for Tony Strickland and I didn't even vote for him during the last election. But the personal attacks against him in this thread are ridiculous. Get real, republicans aren't the only ones guilty of taking money from gaming interests. Indian casino money is flowing freely to politicians from both political parties. I don't like it, but I'm at least honest enough to admit that both democrats and republicans play the same game. But the silence is deafening around here when it comes to discussing the money raised by democratic party candidates. The regulars around here love to make an issue about money that comes from developers being to support special interests, but you don't seem to have any problem with money that comes from powerful labor unions. That's not a special interest? You guys can't expect to be taken seriously if you keep talking out of both sides of your mouth.
Bubba, there aren't many democratic candidates around here to pick on because it is a red part of the state for now. I am sure if there were competitive campaigns you would be right.
My problem is raising or spending special interest money when there isn't much competition. For example, Audra Strickland raising money from sources that aren't in it for an idealogical reason that make the public trust go down when she doesn't have a campaign that can be called close. Why open yourself up to allegations when it isn't going to be close? I think back to Nixon and his dirty tricks that brought down his administration. He was going to win the campaign in a landslide regardless.
There is also the problem of shuffling money between campaign accounts and family members. You are right that many people do it. That doesn't mean everyone does it. I can understand some arguments on behalf of paying members of your own family but again it seems to lower the public trust.
Have you read the LA Times article? Do you think it is fair or a hit job?
Brian, there are plenty of democratic candidates to pick on. Just because an office is held by a republican doesn't mean that the democratic challenger should get a free pass when it comes to raising money. Plus there are statewide offices that impact local political races. Last I checked we also had a democrat in Congress named Lois Capps who represents portions of Ventura County, yet I don't see any threads around here that question her record or campaign finances. Ventura County also has a few democrats that represent districts in the state assembly. And in the last statewide election the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Attorney General, and Treasurer all went to democrats. So just because there are small pockets of conservatism here and there doesn't at all erase the enormous political and fundraising advantages enjoyed by democrats throughout this state. And I do know that you cover statewide races as well as local races in your blog, yet even in the statewide races where republican victories are rare these blogs tend to have the same content and attacks directed at republicans in general.
Now I do agree that elected officials should not be employing or suffling campaign money to family members. In fact I really don't disagree with you at all. But I believe that the issue of sleazy campaign financing and hiring family members cuts both ways and both political parties share equal blame. This is not a republican or democrat issue. There are many prominent democrats in this state, both past and present, that can share the stage on this topic.
Barbra Williamson said something interesting in a recent post. She mentioned that she has to take money from developers because individuals don't write checks to support the kind of money she needs to run a political campaign. The reality is that our convoluted campaign finance laws and lack of public interest in contributing to campaigns has contributed to this situation. But it is not a partisan issue, nor is it fair to malign members of one political party just because they may enjoy a small pocket of support in a particular region. Nor do I think that any state would be better off if the minority party was driven completely from power so that a single party could control everything.
Bubba, you are right that there are local Democrats but as I live and write mostly about Simi Valley I am not represented nor do I write about most of these positions.
I write about the people that represent me locally the most. Every once in awhile I write about something else but not often.
I figure if you want the latest Hillary or Rudy news you can go to Fox or CNN. Maybe dailykos.com or powerline blog.
I write about Republicans because that is who is in charge where I live. If I lived in Ventura I would write about Democrats.
I can't keep politicians in other districts honest or bring to their light the dealings in places I don't live as effective as my hometown.
Think globally. Act locally. Pretty powerful motto, no?
I think you'd agree that people get most involved or worked up about things they have little power over ( Presidential campaigns) but ignore the stuff in their own neighborhood ( planning commissions, city councils).
I think at one time I had your e-mail address, but I lost it. E-mail me again sometime. Feel free to use a free yahoo or hotmail account.
VcRCC looking to make everything Republican. Focus on results later.
Audra Strickland now wants to allow the growers to sue anyone who bad mouths a head of lettuce. I would love to see if growers have given to her campaign. All this will do is lead to higher taxes and more frivolous lawsuits. Audra's last bill would have created free agency in high school sports. This woman needs to get a real job and stop living off the public.
"bad mouths a head of lettuce". LOL That one really made me laugh out loud.
Audra Strickland is quickly becoming the queen of stupid, pandering and irrelevant legislation. The three bills that come to mind are something to do with kids transfering between schools to play on sports teams, no shooting of tigers (bengals evidently being a huge voting bloc in the district) and now she moves to protect leafy greens from bad language. She's on a pace to "out dumb" her hubby, and that's saying a LOT.
On another note, Bubba, did I just read that you voted for John Chiang last November?
Toxic!
When you see smoke you know there is fire.
These two are on fire! Expect more form them in the future as they end political careers of their opponents!
Boom!
More name ID for Tony in yet another article!
I received information that the Attorney General's office is looking into the Stricklands exchanging of money to pay each other as well as other items that violate state law. I hope the AG's office will finally put an end to this corrupt family. Is Strickland ever not running and what about all that Indian Casino Money he took. About a million dollars. Voters Beware.
It is about time someone from outside came in to do an investigation of the Strickland's. They should also look into the VCRCC and every race they were involved in and follow the money!
Becerra is Elton's lap pony? That's going to be a short ride!
Are there any worthwhile candidates? I'm more of an independent who used to be a republican? Unfortunately, the party of Reagan has lost its way... Now, I lean to a more purist conservative and Libertarian political view. In my view, the Libertarians are the only true party of principle. Any good Libertarians out there? I like to give them a chance to be heard, and my vote. BTW, I'm willing to run for Council in Simi Valley... at least, the citizens will have a choice. The fact that no one ran against the City Council members of Simi Valley who ran unopposed is really sad. It's sad when an electorate has no options. Come on Simi Valley, Let's find some new blood.
Thanks,
ANDY
Thanks,
ANDY
ANDREW BULLES FOR SIMI VALLEY CITY COUNCIL.